Buying A New Garbage Disposal

So it is time to replace your garbage disposal or you’d like to install one. There are a few things to consider because you want to buy the right one for your kitchen. Not all garbage disposals work the same so it is a good idea to consider all the options. Please contact Duncan Plumbing Solutions if you need help selecting or installing a new garbage disposal. Our expert plumbers are very experienced with various brands and models and can assist you with the most appropriate disposal for your needs.

Currently the most popular and best-selling garbage disposal brand is InSinkErator. Duncan Plumbing Solutions installs InSinkErator brand garbage disposals. They seem to be the most competitive with regards to quality, price, and durability. While there are other great brands available, InSinkErator is quite prevalent at most home improvement stores. Often they may be the only choice available.

Aside from brand there are several important elements to consider when selecting a garbage disposal. The price is usually dictated by the unit’s horse power and size. Other things to consider are noise level, components, and special concerns like a septic tank.

This guide is organized by horse power so it can apply to any brand of garbage disposals.

1/3 Horse Power – The lowest horse power garbage disposals available are 1/3 horse. Although they may seem like a great economical option their utility level is quite limited. They can easily get jammed and have the cheapest internal components which will rust out in the shortest amount of time. This option should only be considered for very limited or temporary use.

1/2 Horse Power – This is usually the minimum horse power recommended for typical home use. These can usually be purchased for less than $100 so they are still an affordable option. They are smaller and can usually easily fit into tighter spaces. This unit size is a great option for those who do not use their disposals all of the time and do not over feed the garbage disposal.

The noise level tends to be quite high for these disposals. Also, it is important to run a lot of water with these units to help all of the food go down. Whenever possible opt for a 1/2 horse power garbage disposer with Stainless Steel Grind components which will make it last much longer.

3/4 Horse Power – This is a great size for a garbage disposal which can serve most kitchens quite well. At this size they will have plenty of power for all those left overs and more. Most like the InSinkErator Compact can grind things like potato peels, celery, and much more. Although it is not recommended that you put peelings in the disposal.

With this much horse power disposals will not get jammed so easily and many more features are available. Stainless steel grind components for instance offer a much longer life, so look for that whenever possible. Also, most disposals at this size will have more sound protection, so they can run even quieter than the 1/2 horse power units. One thing to keep in mind though, these tend to be a bit bigger than the 1/2 horse power disposals, so make sure you have the room to install one under your kitchen sink.

1 Horse Power – Most of the 1 horse power models are the top of the line like the InSinkErator Evolution Excel. They can end up being quieter than even the 3/4 horse power models. All at this level should be fully stainless steel in the grinding chamber, have more room for more food at at time, and be virtually impossible to jam.

Note that these will tend to be quite large and you will need quite a bit of space under the sink. Units of this size with reverse osmosis systems can end up taking up the majority of the room under the sink. These are great units. If you have the room and the money a 1 horse power garbage disposal can be well worth it.

Homes With Septic Tanks – Septic tanks require additional consideration but a garbage disposal is not out of the question. There are garbage disposals that have a special cartridge on the side of the unit that injects the food waste with a natural microorganisms to help with the break down of the food. These cartridges can be less that $15 dollars and last up to 6 months. On top of helping the septic tank they also have a citrus scent that help with controlling the odor from the sink and drain.

Comments

Hi,Thank you for taking the time to look at my post. I’m depstraee for an answer to my shower issue. I recently bought a house that was in the middle of renovations. The old owner had moved the electric hot water tank out in the garage for more space in the house. Since the garage isn’t attached we decided to have the plumber install a recirculating pump so that the 50 gallon electric hot didn’t have a problem getting water to the house quickly. I finally moved in and realized that I have hot water in both of my sinks, but only about 30 seconds of hot water in the shower. Originally we thought maybe the cartridge was bad in the single handle shower control so we replaced that as well as took it apart to make sure the red scalding thing wasn’t set too low. When that didn’t solve the problem we decided to look at the dip tube in the hot water tank thinking it needed to be replaced or that a heating element wasn’t working right on the tank so we weren’t getting all 50 gallons. Well, our contractor ended up messing up the dip tube so we bought a brand new Whirlpool 50 gallon hot water tank. Still no hot water .I’ve been taking cold showers for a month now and I don’t know what else to do. As soon as I get out of the shower I can turn on the sink and have hot water there so it’s really mind boggling. The plumber who did the work isn’t returning phones call to come back out, so I’m resorting to the internet to see if someone can help I’m hoping someone can help me so I don’t have to keep boiling water for my son’s bath!!!! Thank you for your time!

There are check valves that need to be installed in certain places in your system. You need to have a plumber go through your plumbing system. There is a check valve missing somewhere in the system. Where are you located?